Fullerton votes against getting bid from sheriff

FULLERTON – Hundreds of supporters of the city's Police Department, including dozens wearing T-shirts with the phrase "We love the Fullerton Police" on the front, showed up at the City Council meeting Tuesday clearly against the council seeking a proposal to outsource police services from the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Many applauded when the majority of the five-member body agreed.

The council voted 3-2 against seeking a "preliminary analysis" from the Sheriff's Department, which would have included an estimated cost for that agency to take over police services in the city. The issue of outsourcing police services was raised by some council members as a cost-saving measure.

Mayor Sharon Quirk-Silva along with Councilmen Doug Chaffee and Greg Sebourn voted against going to the Sheriff's Department for a bid, while Councilmen Travis Kiger and Bruce Whitaker were in favor of seeking a bid.

Chaffee pointed out that Fullerton officers have a contract in place through 2015.

"The timing is of concern," Chaffee said. "If this needs to be talked about in a couple of years, fine."

The mayor agreed.

"We have a long-term tradition with our Fullerton Police Department," Quirk-Silva said. "We have a contract that has three years left. ... What kind of message does that send?"

But Whitaker said cost saving measures, which could include outsourcing police services, need to be addressed sooner rather than later.

"My goal is to gather information," Whitaker said. "Fear of information is not a good place for the city of Fullerton to be."

Kiger also saw no harm in at least exploring all money-saving options.

"I answer to the taxpayers of Fullerton, and I owe it to them to see that our finances are in good shape," Kiger said. "We are going to have to look at this stuff sooner or later."

The overflow crowd, which spilled into the lobby, listened as virtually all of the 50 or so addressing the council spoke out against getting a bid from the Sheriff's Department.

"I think this is a big item for the residents and businesses in Fullerton, and they want to support the Fullerton department," said Cpl. Barry Coffman, president of the Fullerton Police Officers' Association, on the turnout of supporters.

Some addressing the council praised the department's work with the homeless population and programs combating violence against women.

"As a member of the community, I'm here as a strong supporter of the Fullerton Police Department," said Stewart Shanfield, a 26-year resident. "What I've been so touched by is that you are involved in the community. ... I think outsourcing would be a terrible mistake."

"Nobody from the City Council has approached the chief to discuss how the department is run," Coffman said. "If it's about cost, we would expect someone (from the council) to approach us."

Once the Sheriff's Department receives the city's request, the analysis would be performed within a "few months," said Cmdr. Don Barnes, who oversees field operations and investigative services in that agency.

The preliminary analysis would be performed at no cost and include a cost estimate after factoring in calls for service, current staffing levels and crime statistics, and a community profile, Barnes said.

"We typically ask for data going back two years," said Barnes, who spoke to The Orange County Register before Tuesday's meeting. "After getting the data, we use the information as an indicator to give (the city) the optimum level of service that they would expect."

With the city's population at just under 140,000, the Fullerton Police Department employs 144 sworn officers and 93 non-sworn workers and has an annual budget of about $37 million, said Capt. Dan Hughes, the acting chief.

When contracting with a city, Barnes said, the Sheriff's Department typically gives that city's police employees the opportunity to apply for jobs in the new agency. The Sheriff's Department provides services to 12 Orange County cities and will soon be adding Yorba Linda as a contract city.

"My dealings with the Fullerton Police Department have always been positive," Barnes said. "We have always worked well with them."

Tom Dominguez, the president of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, also addressed the council

"The men and women of the Orange County Deputy Sheriffs are here to support the men and women of the Fullerton association," Dominguez said.

The Fullerton officers union has a contract in place through 2014, with an option for a one-year extension.

Coffman said the association has no intention of breaking the contract.

The Fullerton department came under attack after the death of Kelly Thomas, a mentally ill transient who died July 10, 2011, five days after he was involved in a physical altercation with police at the Fullerton Transportation Center. Two officers face criminal charges in the man's death.